Solderless connector



Feb. 25, 1941. J. G. JACKSON SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR Filed July 23, 1958 INVEN TOR flcisarz,

Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES SOLDERLESS CONNECTOR John G.Jackson, Detroit, Mich; assignor to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich, acorpora- 4 tion of Michigan Application July 23, 1938, Serial No.220,902

4 Claims.

My lnvention relates to connectors for electrical conductors and has forits object the'provision of an improved, simple and economical form ofconnector of the solderless type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solderless connectorformed of a continuous conducting strap preferably shaped at one endinto an inverted U and having a threaded opening in thebight of the Ureceiving a clamping stud whose diameter is larger than the spacedisposed between the legs of the U; the pressure exerted by the clampingstud then being competent to work on a direct line upon the terminal endof the engaged cable and upon the abutment portion of the conductingstrap .upon which the terminal end of said cable lies.

Other objects and features of this invention will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following specification and append-.

ed drawing illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the inventionin which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the connector with a cable clampedtherein.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-lI of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken .along line III-1II of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing amodified construction.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectionalview taken along line VIVI of Figure 4. r

The connector, I, as illustrated in the drawing, is formed of a singlepiece-conducting strap having one end bent into an inverted U shapewith'opposite legs 2, and a bight 3, and with its opposite end forming aterminalextension 4 having an opening 5 therein whereby the connectormay be attached to a switch terminal or other support by means of a studor other attaching means. The legs 2 are provided with openings 6through which the terminal end of a cable 1 to be clamped, is received.The bight 3 of the U is provided with a threaded opening force that isexerted by this stud will act on a direct line upon the terminal end ofthe cable I and upon the clamping surface furnished by the abutment 9defining the bottom of openings 6. Thus the terminal end of the cable 1will 5 be engaged by clamping surfaces opposing each other in the directline of action of the applied force, one furnished by the clamping stud8 and the other by the abutments 9 and accomplished through requiringthe diameter of the clamping 11 stud 8 to be larger than the spacedisposed between the'legs 2; the advantage derived from the cooperationof these fastening surfaces being the obtainance of a positive, safe andrigid connection.

The clamping stud 8 acting upon the terminal end of 'the cable Icompresses it and causes it to become slightly deformed. The deformationthus acquired assists in the procurance of a more secure connection, forthe deformation opposes withdrawal of the terminal end of the cable 1.

Figures 4 to 6 inclusive show a modification in which the sheet metalstrap is return bent, in the opposite direction to the preferred form,as depicted in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, into a rectangular shape IDwith a terminal extension II and openings l2 in sides of the rectanglesimilar to openings 6 in the preferred U shaped connector. The leg l3possesses a rivet extension M which fits into an opening in theconducting strap and is headed to give rigidity and stability to therectangular frame. The clamping stud l5 used here has a larger diameterthan is the space between the legs, in order to obtain the same effectas is procured by the preferred shape, 1. e., the line of force exertedby the clamping stud l5 acting in a direct line upon the terminal end ofthe cable and'upon abutments l6 upon which the cable lies.

In this modification, a stud l5 having a different head than the stud 8in Figure 1 is depicted. The type of stud used is immaterial and eitheror any other type may be used with either form of connector.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto; as many variations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadestpossible-in- 50 openings therethrough for the reception of a cableterminal, a clamping stud threaded into a part rigid with said walls andhaving a diameter substantially greater than the space between saidwalls and adapted to apply a clamping pressure on said cable terminal,the thickness of said walls being sufficient to provide a substantialsurface at the lower portion of the openings which the clamping studoverlaps to provide for the application of a clamping pressure from saidstud, at right angles through the cable, to" the overlapped portion ofthe surfaces defining the openings in the walls.

2. An electric cable terminal connector comprising an inverted U-shapedconducting element having its opposite legs provided with alignedtransverse openings adapted to receive the terminal end of the cable andhaving its bight provided with a threaded opening, a clamping studthreaded into said bight opening and having a diameter greater than thespace between the legs of the U whereby the bottom surface 01' the studoverlies portions of the surfaces defining the openings through the legsand whereby a direct straight line clamping pressure is applied to saidcable end between the bottom of said stud and the portions ofthesurfaces defining the openings which it overlies.

3. An electric cable terminal connector comprising a conducting elementof open-ended rectangular shape having the opposite sides thereofprovided with-aligned transverse openings, and a clamping stud threadedthrough the top surpressure is exerted on the cable end between thebottom of thestud and the abutments formed by the portions of thesurfaces defining the openings in the sides which the stud overlies.

4. An electric cable terminal connector comprising a conducting strapreturn bent at one end to provide an open-ended rectangular frame, a

the opposite end of said strap forming a connector terminal having meanswhereby it may be secured to a conductin element to which the cable isto be conductively attached, the said one end of said strap beingrigidly connected to the main body of the strap to prevent displacementof said frame, the opposite upstanding sides of said frame beingprovided with aligned transverse openings adapted to receive theterminal end of said cable, and a clamping stud threaded through the topsurface of the said rectangular frame and having a diameter greater thanthe space between said sides whereby the bottom of said stud overliesportions of the surfaces defining said openings to apply a straight lineclamping force to said cable end against the abutments formed by theportions of the faces defining the openings which the stud overlies.

JOHN G. JACKSON.

